Various ‎– Pillows & Prayers VG+/VG

Pillows & Prayers (Cherry Red 1982-1983) wasn’t your typical compilation album. Released at a discount price around Christmas 1982, it acted as a gateway drug to the independent music scene flourishing under the Cherry Red record label. For less than a pound, you got a smorgasbord of sounds – jangly guitars jostled with experimental electronics, introspective ballads brushed shoulders with spoken word rants. It was a snapshot of a particular moment in British music, a post-punk hangover mixed with the burgeoning possibilities of indie.

This wasn’t just a budget compilation; it was a cultural touchstone. Selling over 120,000 copies and topping the UK Indie Chart for weeks, Pillows & Prayers introduced a new generation to artists like Felt, Marine Girls, and The Passage. The music itself was a wild ride, encompassing everything from the dreamy pop of Felt to the brutal noise of Eyeless In Gaza. Decades later, the compilation is still celebrated for its chaotic charm, a testament to the exciting and unpredictable spirit of the early 80s indie scene.